Preventing unplanned and unwanted litters is the most obvious reason to have your dog or cat spayed/neutered, but it isn’t the only one. In addition to preventing your pet from contributing to the already-overwhelming homeless pet population, spaying and neutering prevent or lower the incidence of a wide range of health issues.

In female companion animals, spaying prevents uterine infections and reproductive cancers. It also reduces the occurrence of cancerous mammary tumors. In males, neutering prevents testicular cancer while lowering the likelihood of prostate issues. Both procedures curb troublesome behaviors, including roaming, territorial marking, yowling, howling, and aggression.